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G2S Project Code: 2020-KS-84993
State: Kansas
Fiscal Year: 2020
Grantee
State Library of Kansas

Project Director
Director Name: Michael Lang
Director Phone: 620-341-6280
Director Email: michael.lang@ks.gov
General Information
Title: Talking Books
State Project Code:
Start Date: 10/01/2019
End Date: 09/30/2021
Abstract:
The State Library provides personal assistance via phone,email, and order forms to fill patron reading interests and requests. While the majority of books available through the Talking Book program are provided by the Library of Congress, that collection is supplemented with Kansas books which are converted to an accessible format by staff at Kansas Talking Books.Titles are produced with an emphasis on early reading materials, books about Kansas or by Kansas authors, and titles to support statewide reading programs such as Kansas Reads to Preschoolers,William Allen White Book Award, and Kansas Notable Books.
The State Library subscribes to the Keystone Library Automation System (KLAS). KLAS is a library automation system intended to meet the unique, complex needs of a Talking Book Library that services persons with various print disabilities.  This program complies with section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Digital books and magazines from the National Library Service are available for download from the State Library’s website.  There are more than 108,000 books and over 100 magazines available for download from this site, and new titles are constantly being added.  The State Library provides access to these titles as well as customer support.
The State Library of Kansas provides Braille transcription and production services for state agencies that need their brochures or other shorter documents printed in Braille. Files should be sent as attachments in an email and computer generated transcription will be provided. This is available for certain formats only and will not include images, tables, or graphs. If the State Library of Kansas is not able to do the transcription, a list of referrals to other organization scan be provided.


Marketing Campaign
Progress thus far on marketing campaign:
199,900 unique people reached, 748,353 impressions, 658 ad clicks, 16,653 3 second video plays

State Goal: Information Access
Budget Information
LSTA
MATCH-State
MATCH-Other
Total
$139,941.16
$0.00
$0.00
$139,941.16
Intent(s)
Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.
Literacy
Systems & Technologies
Activities
Activity Details
Title: Audio and Braille Library Services
Narrative:


The Talking Books program provides personal assistance via phone, email, and order forms to fill patron reading interests and requests.

Digital books and magazines from the National Library Service are available for download from the State Library’s website.  There are more than 108,000 books and over 100 magazines available for download from this site, and new titles are constantly being added. 

Talking Books utilizes the Keystone Library Automation System (KLAS), a library automation system intended to meet the unique, complex needs of a library that services persons with various physical impairments.  



Intent: Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.

Activity: Content
Mode: Lending
Format: Digital


Quantity
Total number of items circulated: 138,723
Average number of items circulated / month: 0
Total number of ILL transactions: 0
Average number of ILL transactions / month: 0


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: No
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No


Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No


Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: General


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types
Public Libraries: 0
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0
Activity Details
Title: Local Production
Narrative:

While the majority of books available through the program are provided by the Library of Congress, that collection is supplemented with Kansas books which are converted to an acceptable format by staff.  Titles are produced include those with an emphasis on early reading materials, books about Kansas or by Kansas authors, and titles to support statewide reading programs such as Kansas Reads,Kansas Reads to Preschoolers, William Allen White Book Award, and Kansas Notable Books.

Braille transcription and production services are provided for state agencies that need their brochures or other shorter documents printed in Braille. 


Intent: Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.

Activity: Content
Mode: Creation
Format: Combined physical & digital


Quantity
Number of items digitized: 15
Number of items digitized and available to the public: 0
Number of physical items: 0
Number of open-source applications/software/systems: 0
Number of proprietary applications/software/systems: 0
Number of learning resources (e.g. toolkits, guides): 0
Number of plans/frameworks: 0


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: No
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No


Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: No
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No


Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: General


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types
Public Libraries: 0
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 1
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 0
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0
Activity Details
Title: Marketing Campaign
Narrative: New Boston Creative Group developed a marketing plan in order to reach Kansans who are unaware of the Talking Books program through the State Library, goals are to increase awareness of the program among referrers and potential users, increase the number of referrals and increase the number of patrons Marketing plan timeline was 7/15/2021 through 1/15/2022

Intent: Improve users’ ability to obtain and/or use information resources.

Activity: Content
Mode: Other
Format: Combined physical & digital
Other: Online graphics updated, Creation of downloadable flyer and poster, Static social media ads, TV ads


Quantity


Partner Information
Organization Type of Partner Organization(s):
Libraries: Yes
Historical Societies or Organizations: No
Museums: No
Archives: No
Cultural Heritage Organization Multi-type: No
Preschools: No
Schools: No
Adult Education: No
Human Service Organizations: No
Other: No


Legal Type of Partner Organization(s):
Federal Government: Yes
State Government: No
Local Government (excluding school districts): No
School District: No
Non-Profit: No
Private Sector: No
Tribe/Native Hawaiian Organization: No


Beneficiaries
Is the activity directed at the library workforce: No
For a targeted group or for the general population: General


Locale
Is the activity state-wide: Yes
Specific Locations: No
Library Types
Public Libraries: 0
Academic Libraries: 0
SLAA: 0
Consortia: 0
Special Libraries: 1
School Libraries: 0
Other: 0
Project Outcomes
Project Outcomes
List any important outcomes or findings not previously reported:
There are now 910 locally produced materials in the collection, of those, 15 titles were added during State Fiscal Year 2020 . The total collection size of digital talking book titles available to users is 108,260 books. During State Fiscal Year 2020, there were 138,723 titles circulated by staff, 55,319 patron BARD downloads, and 4870 total Talking Book registered users. There are currently 635 BARD users.
Please briefly describe the importance of these outcomes and findings for future program planning:
Traditional Talking Books registered users has seen a decline, however the number of BARD users has increased. This was anticipated due to patrons moving towards digital downloads of material.
Explain one or two of the most significant lessons learned for others wanting to adopt any facets of this project:

Do you anticipate continuing this project after the current reporting period ends:
Yes
Do you anticipate any change in level of effort in managing this project:
No
Explain:

Do you anticipate changing the types of activities and objectives addressed by the project:
No
Explain:

Was an evaluation conducted for this project:
No
Was a final written evaluation report produced:
No
Can the final written evaluation report be shared publicly on the IMLS website:
No
Was the evaluation conducted by project staff (either SLAA or local library) or by a third-party evaluator:
Third-Party
What data collection tools were used for any report outcomes and outputs:
Did you collect any media for the data:
What types of methods were used to analyze collected data:
Other:
How were participants (or items) selected:
What type of research design did you use to compare the value for any reported output or outcome:
Exemplary: No
Exemplary Narrative
Project Tags: